In this special International Women’s Day edition of Good Employment Chatter, we sit down with Helen Pankhurst — author, activist and descendant of the Pankhurst family whose legacy helped secure women’s right to vote. Today, she continues that mission through her work on gender equality, democracy and social justice, both in the UK and globally.

Helen explores why the work that holds our communities together — caring, early years, teaching and social care — remains some of the least valued in our economy, and how this gap in value affects women’s experiences at work. But more importantly, she highlights the opportunity this presents: when employers recognise and support the realities of caring responsibilities, they create fairer, stronger and more resilient workplaces.

From understanding the pressures people carry into work, to seeing how good employment and social justice reinforce one another, this conversation offers practical insight, encouragement and challenge for employers across Greater Manchester who want to make meaningful, positive change.

With International Women’s Day 2026 centred on “Give to Gain” and “Rights. Justice. Action. For ALL Women and Girls,” this episode invites employers to reflect on what we value — and how valuing care can help everyone thrive.

In this special Good Employment Awards edition of Good Employment Chatter, we sit down with Jonathan Wood and Claire Wood from Datesand — the Manchester business that won Employer of the Year and Best for Financial Wellbeing (Small) at last year’s Good Employment Awards. They also won Best for Employee Engagement (2024) and Best for Health and Wellbeing (2023)!

They share how a family‑run organisation built a values‑led culture, embedded financial wellbeing into everyday practice and created a workplace where people genuinely thrive. From strengthening their people strategy to championing openness, trust and fair employment, their journey offers insight for employers across Greater Manchester who want to make positive change in their own organisations.

With nominations for the Good Employment Awards 2026 now open, this episode gives employers a real look at what “good” looks like - and why celebrating your people and your practices matters more than ever.

In this episode, we talk to Bev Craig, Leader of Manchester City Council, about her remarkable journey to becoming one of Greater Manchester’s most influential political figures. Bev reflects on how her early years working in hospitality, retail, and call centres shaped her passion for fairness, dignity, and the kind of leadership that genuinely listens to people.

We explore how Bev champions good employment across the city region - from creating long-term pathways into secure work, to reshaping Greater Manchester’s economic strategy so that growth is inclusive and grounded in community needs. Bev also opens up about identity, resilience, and how her experiences of activism, social justice work, and navigating political spaces have shaped her belief that dignity, opportunity, and being heard are essential to a good life.

Tune in for a conversation filled with honesty, insight, and purpose - one that shows how leadership rooted in lived experience can drive real change for people, places, and workplaces across Greater Manchester.

🎵 Music in this episode is by Blue Dot Sessions. Track featured: Dirtbike Lovers.

In this episode, we talk to Sara Auty, Founder of SAZ MEDIA, about her inspiring journey from early challenges to building a values-driven business that blends creativity with community impact. Sara shares how her passion for media and her lived experiences shaped a mission to give young people opportunities, skills, and confidence through digital storytelling.

We explore how Sara champions good employment practices, paying the Real Living Wage, creating safe and supportive workplaces, and reinvesting profits to fund life-changing projects for young people. Sara also opens up about leadership, overcoming imposter syndrome, and why listening deeply and leading with empathy matters more than ever.

Tune in for a conversation that proves business can be a force for good and that creativity can change lives.

🎵 Music in this episode is by Blue Dot Sessions. Track featured: Dirtbike Lovers.

In this episode, we sit down with Nick Cooper, Managing Director of Adept and the Good Employment Charter’s Leader of the Year 2025, to explore what it takes to lead with purpose in some of the UK’s toughest sectors. From his early days on a council estate and dreams of professional football to reshaping security and cleaning work, Nick shares a candid journey of resilience, values, and bold decisions.

We discuss how Adept moved beyond minimum standards to guarantee real living wages, secure hours, and sick pay from day one. These changes transformed retention, trust, and business performance. Nick also opens up about embracing neurodiversity, building inclusive teams, and partnering with the Down’s Syndrome Association to create life-changing opportunities.

Tune in for an inspiring conversation on why doing the right thing is not just good ethics, it's good business.

🎵 Music in this episode is by Blue Dot Sessions. Track featured: Dirtbike Lovers.

In this episode, we explore how purpose-driven business can shape better workplaces and stronger communities. Prof. Maggie O’Carroll, Chief Executive Officer of The Women’s Organisation, shares insights on why embedding values and social value into employment practices isn’t just the right thing to do - it’s the smart thing.

We discuss how employers can move from “good” to “great” by building cultures rooted in purpose, and why this shift leads to better outcomes for people, productivity, and profitability. Prof. O’Carroll also highlights the importance of measuring social impact and supporting inclusive growth through practical frameworks.

Tune in to hear how your organisation can lead with purpose and create lasting change.

Relevant to this episode:

- Learn more about the Women's Organisation: https://shorturl.at/SZGqk

🎵 Music in this episode is by Blue Dot Sessions. Track featured: Dirtbike Lovers.

In this episode, we explore how businesses can adopt fairer hiring practices to support people with convictions and build a more inclusive workforce. Sean Wilcock, Programme Lead on the Starting Fresh programme at Sodexo, shares practical insights on reducing bias in recruitment and designing accessible application processes.

We discuss why many talented individuals are overlooked due to past convictions and how small changes - such as clear job adverts, open conversations, and tailored support - can make a huge difference. Sean also highlights the business benefits of hiring from this untapped talent pool, including increased loyalty, improved retention, and a stronger commitment to social responsibility.

Tune in to learn how your organisation can play a role in breaking down barriers and creating second chances.

Relevant to this episode:

- Connect with Sean Wilcock | LinkedIn

- Starting Fresh page: Social Mobility: Driving more career opportunities for people with criminal convictions through Starting Fresh

🎵 Music in this episode is by Blue Dot Sessions. Track featured: Dirtbike Lovers.

In this episode, we dive into the vital topic of workplace inclusion and how businesses can create environments where every employee feels valued, supported, and heard. Our guest, Christopher Owen, is the founder of Coliberate, where they provide inclusivity and liberation coaching, consulting, speaking, and training for individuals, groups, and organisations. With a PhD in intersectional systemic oppression and a decade of experience in queer liberation and the LGBTQ+ sector, Christopher brings deep expertise to the conversation.

Recognised as a Northern Gamechanger of 2024, they serve on the Advisory Board of Heard Storytelling and the technical panel of the Greater Manchester Good Employment Charter. Christopher has trained thousands of professionals internationally and written extensively on intersectionality, identity, feminist revisionism, and queer resistance. Their first book, Visible Justice: An LGBTQ+ Inclusivity Handbook, was published in 2021, with a second on the way under a signed deal with Routledge Education.

From inclusive recruitment practices to embedding diversity into workplace culture, Christopher shares practical strategies for organisations committed to making inclusion a reality - not just a buzzword. We also explore the wider benefits of inclusive workplaces, including increased innovation, higher engagement, and stronger business performance.

This episode highlights the Best for Inclusion category at the Good Employment Awards, celebrating organisations that are leading the way in creating diverse and inclusive workplaces. Nominations are open until 21st March—learn more at goodemploymentawards.co.uk.

🔗 Learn more about Christopher’s work at coliberate.co.uk

🎵 Music in this episode is by Blue Dot Sessions. Track featured: Dirtbike Lovers.